Cylinder lock



April 5, 1938. G. E. SWANSQN '2,113,007

CYLINDER LOCK Filed My 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE 15 Claims.

Hotels, apartments, office buildings and safe deposit boxes havepluralities of cylinder locks with the locking pins of each lock set tobe unlocked by a diferent service key, but all capable of being unlockedby a single master key. In some cases a series of locks are set so thatWhile each is operable by a diierent service key and all operable by asingle master key, certain locks of the series are operable by asub-master key. Frequently a service key, and sometimes a master orsub-master key, becomes lost, stolen or duplicated and it is desirableto re-set the locking pins in new combinations.

The object of this invention is to construct a cylinder lock that ispractically pick-proof, and which has locking pins and wafers soarranged that, when necessary, they may be easily and quickly re-set innew combinations for substituted service or master keys.

This object is attained by locating magazine bores for wafers in suchrelation to the cylinders, that on the manipulation of a member bysimple means, the cylinders are free to be turned by keys to suchpositions that the bores containing the normal locking pins and waferswill automatically receive from or eject to the magazine bores therequired numbers of wafers to operably set the normal locking pins tothe contour of the key to be substituted.

The body of the lock first illustrated as an embodiment of the inventioncomprises a plug with a key-hole, an inner cylinder around the plug, anouter cylinder containing a segmental member, surrounding the innercylinder, and a barrel encasing the outer cylinder, these parts havingthe required bores for retaining the neoessary locking pins and wafersto accomplish the desired end.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse section of the locktaken on the plane indicated by the dotted line I-l on Fig. 4, showingthe relations of the pins and wafers when a service key is inserted.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line2--2 on Fig. 5 showing the relations of the same pins and wafers with amaster key inserted.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by 3-3 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the lock with a service keyinserted.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section with a master key inserted.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate the various relative positions of thepins and wafers as the parts are being manipulated for changing thesetting for a new master key and service key.

Fig. 10 is .a perspective View of the outer cylinder.

Fig. 11`is a similar View of the segmental piece that is movable in theouter cylinder.

Fig. 12 is a View of the inner cylinder.

Fig. 13 is a view` of the plug.

Fig. 14 is, on smaller scale, a transverse section of a modiedconstruction of the lock, with a master key inserted.

'Ihe plug l is fitted to turn in the inner cylinder 2 which is rotatablytted in the outer cylinder 3 that is rotatable in the barrel 4. In aspace 5 in the outer cylinder is a loose segmental member 6. Thesemembers have a row of bores containing the required combinations ofnormal locking pins and wafers, which bores are aligned when a servicekey 1 or a. master key 8 is inserted or removed. The plug has a flangedhead 9 at its outer end, and on the inner end of the plug is'a nut l0,between which and the plate Il that retains the cylinders in the barrel,is the bolt throwing .or latch releasing lug l2 which projects from. andturns with the inner cylinder.

The plug has an integral longitudinally extending section .13, capableof limited movement in a space I4 in the inner cylinder, and a suitablyfluted key slot l5. In addition to the bores I6 containing the normallocking pins l'l and wafers I8, the plug is shown with a transverse boreI9 containing a loose pin 20.

'I'he inner cylinder besides having the row of bores 2| containing thenormal'locking pins-22, has on one side a bore 23 and diametricallyopposite has a bore 24, which bores normally align with the bore I9`through the plug. In the bore 23 is a spring pressed pin 25, and in thebore 24 is a socket 26 for receiving the head of the pin 20. The pin andpin 25 normally lock the plug and inner cylinder so they will rotate asone element. The inner cylinder also has a row of magazine bores 21 thatextend angularly'with respect to the bores 2l, and in these bores 21 are.a supply of wafers 28 so located that they will not obstruct therotatory movement of the inner cylinder in the outer cylinder.

The outer cylinder in addition to the bores 29 containing the normallocking lpins 30 and/or wafers 3| has at one side of the bores 29 andangularly related thereto, magazine bores 32 in which are spring pressedwafers 33. The bores 32 are normally out of line with the bores 21 inthe inner cylinder, but under conditions hereafter set forth the bores21 may be turned into line therewith. The outer cylinder also has on theother side of the bores 29 angularly related magazine bores 34containing wafers 35.

The loose segmental member 6 in addition to the bores 36 containing thenormal locking pins 31 and/or wafers 38 has arranged angularly thereto ahole 39 that normally is in line with the bore 24 in the inner cylinderand with the head of the transverse pin 20 in the plug I. The member 6also has angularly related and adjacent to the hole 39 a bore 4Ucontaining a pin 4I which is pressed outwardly so that normally its headenters the bore 42 of the outer cylinder and locks these memberstogether.

The barrel in addition to the bores 43 containlng the inwardly pressednormal locking pins 44 has angularly related magazine bores 45containing inwardly pressed wafers 46. In the side of the barrel, in thetransverse plane of the pin 20, is a hole 41.

With the construction described when the correct service key l isinserted in the keyhole in the plug the locking pins and wafers assumesuch relations that there is a break between the inner cylinder and theouter cylinder and loose member, and as the plug and inner cylinder arelocked by the transverse pin 28 and pin 25, turning the key turns theplug and the inner cylinder with the attached bolt or latch lug I2.Under this condition locking pins bridge the joints between the loosemember and the outer cylinder, and the outer cylinder and barrel, sothat these members remain stationary. Figs. l, 3, 4.

When the right master key 8 is inserted the locking pins and wafersassume such relations that the plug is locked to the inner cylinder, theinner cylinder is locked to the loose member, and the loose member islocked to the outer cylinder, leaving a break at the joint between theouter cylinder and the barrel, so that all of the members will turn inthe barrel for throwing the bolt or latch lug, when the key is turned.Figs. 2, 3, 5.

If it is desired to change the setting of the locking pins oi the abovedescribed lock for a different master key, the original master key isinserted in the key slot and turned counter-clockwise until the bores 34in the outer cylinder coincide with the bores 45 in the barrel. Thismovement brings the hole 42 in the outer cylinder and the pin 4| in themovable member 6 into line with the hole 41 in the barrel, Fig. 7. Apin, nail or other implement (not shown) is inserted into the holes 41and 42 and the pin 4I pushed back so as to unlock the movable member 6from the outer cylinder. With the member 5 unlocked from the outercylinder, the key is turned further in the same direction until thebores 36 in the member I align with the bores 34 in the outer cylinderand with the bores 45 in the barrel, Fig. 8. With the parts in thisrelation the original master key is removed and the key to besubstituted is inserted. As the new key is pushed in the wafers in thebores automatically adjust themselves to the contour of the new key,that is, wafers are pushed out of the bores 35 in the member '6 into themagazine bores 34 in the outer cylinder, and from the magazine boresinto the bores 45 in the barrel by the higher parts of the new keyaccording to their heights, and wafers are received into the magazinebores 34 from the bores 45 and in the bores 36 from the magazine bores,according to the depths of the lower parts of the new key contour,leaving the required break between the outer cylinder and barrel whichpermits the new master key to operate the lock. The implement which wasused to press in the pin 4I is removed and when the new key is turned toinitial operating position the pin 4I will spring out and again lock themember 5 to the outer cylinder. This is accomplished without alteringthe setting of the pins and wafers for the service key.

In order to change the setting for a new service key the master key isinserted in the keyhole and turned counterclockwise until the hole 42 inthe outer cylinder aligns with the hole 41 in the barrel, a pin, nail orother implement is inserted in these holes and the pin 4I pushed in tounlock the member i3 from the outer cylinder as above set forth. The keyis then turned further until the bore 24 in the inner cylinder and thehole 39 in the member 6 are in line with `the hole 42 in the outercylinder and hole 41 in the barrel. The pin, nail or other implement isthen inserted through these holes and the pin 20 pushed back so as tounlock the plug from the inner cylinder.

The master key is then removed and the old service key inserted and theplug turned clockwise until the bores I6 in the plug are in line withthe bores 21 in the inner cylinder and the bores 32 in the outercylinder. The old service key is removed and the service key to besubstituted is inserted. When the parts are in this relation the wafers28 in the bores 21 and the wafers 33 in the bores 32 automaticallyadjust themselves according to the contour of the new key, the higherparts of the key pushing the wafers out and the lower parts of the keyallowing wafers to be pushed in. Fig. 9. The plug is then turned tonormal position and the lock is in condition to be operated by theservice key for which it is set. The elements may then be manipulated,as previously described, and set for the master key to be used.

The pins 3U in the bores 29 in the outer cylinder, and the pins 44 inthe bores 43 in the barrel are shown as made in sections of varyinglengths. This permits the provision of submaster keys which havecontours that will so position these pins that breaks will occur betweenthe outer cylinder and the barrel. The sections of the pins are of suchlength that the sub-master keys may be tted without aiecting the settingof the pins and wafers for the master and service keys.

The modied construction of lock shown in Fig. 14 operates in the samemanner as the construction above set forth. The difference being thatthe plug 5I is circular in cross section instead of having the integrallongitudinally eX- tending section I3 movable in the space I4 of theconstruction described, and consequently the inner cylinder 52 does nothave such a space, and in the modified form instead of having the memberI5 movable in a space 5 in the outer cylinder 3 it is made as a completecylinder 53 and turns between the inner cylinder 52 and the outercylinder 54.

By having a hole through the escutcheon and door, preferably from theinside, in line with the hole 41 in the barrel, a wire or other meansmay be thrust in and the pin 4I which locks the member 6 to the outercylinder and the pin 2U which locks the plug to the inner cylindermanipulated as above described, and the setting of the pins and wafersfor a new master key or new service key eiected without removing a lockfrom the door.

The invention claimed isz- 1. A lock comprising a barrel, an outercylinder rotatable in the barrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in theouter cylinder, a plug rotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediatemember movable between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, saidelements having rows of bores that normally are in alignment andprovided with locking pins and wafers sized to permit the lock to beoperated by a master key and a service key, yielding means locking theplug and the inner cylinder together, yielding means locking theintermediate member and the outer cylinder together, means permittingsaid yielding means to be manipulated from the exterior for unlockingthe intermediate member from the outer cylinder and the plug from theinner cylinder, said barrel and outer cylinder having auxiliary Wafercontaining bores positioned to be aligned by a turn of a .master key,and the intermediate member adapted to be turned by said key to alignits normal bores with the auxiliary bores of the barrel and outercylinder when said member is unlocked from the outer cylinder, the outercylinder also having auxiliary wafer containing bores and the innercylinder having auxiliary wafer containing bores positioned to bealigned by the turn of the master key when the intermediate member isunlocked from the outer cylinder, said aligned bores of the inner andouter cylinders also being positioned to align with the normal lockingpin bores of the plug by a turn of a service key when the plug isunlocked from the inner cylinder.

2. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a master key, yieldingmeans locking the intermediate member and the outer cylinder together,means permitting said yielding means to be manipulated from the exteriorfor unlocking the intermediate member from the outer cylinder, saidbarrel and outer cylinder having auxiliary wafer containing b-orespositioned to be aligned by a turn of a master key, and the intermediatemember adapted to be turned by said key to align its normal bores withthe auxiliary bores of the barrel and outer cylinder when said member isunlocked from the outer cylinder.

3. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a service key,yielding means locking the plug and the inner cylinder together, and abore extending radially of the barrel with which bore the borescontaining said yielding means may be aligned to permit said yieldingmeans to be manipulated from the exterior for unlocking the plug fromthe inner cylinder, the outer cylinder having auxiliary wafer containingbores and the inner cylinder having auxiliary Wafer containing borespositioned to be aligned with the normal locking pin bores of the plugby a turn of a service key when the plug is unlocked from the innercylinder.

4. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an. inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a pluglrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rowsofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a master key and aservice key, said barrel and outer cylinder having auxiliary wafercontaining bores positioned to be aligned by a turn of a master key, andthe intermediate member adapted to be turned by said key to align itsnormal bores with the auxiliary bores of the barrel and outer cylinder,the outer cylinder also having auxiliary wafer containing bores and theinner cylinder having auxiliary wafer containing bores positioned to bealigned by the turn of the master key, said aligned bores of the innerand outer cylinders also being positioned to align with the normallocking pin bores of the plug by a turn of a service key.

5. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer the barrel with which bore the borescontaining i either of said yielding means may be aligned to permit saidyielding means to be manipulated from the exterior for unlocking theintermediate member from the outer cylinder and the plug from the innercylinder.

6. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate -mernber movablebetween the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements havingrows of bores that normally are in alignment and provided with lockingpins and wafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a master key,yielding means locking the intermediate member and the outer cylindertogether, and a bore extending radially of the barrel with which borethe bores containing said yielding means may be aligned to permit saidyielding means to be manipulated from the exterior for unlocking theintermediate member from the outer cylinder.

7. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores lthat normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a service key,yielding means lockable between the inner cylinder and the outercylinder, said elements having rows of bores that normally are inalignment and provided with locking pins and wafers sized to permit thelock to be operated by a key, said barrel and outer cylinder havingauxiliary bores containing wafers at one side of their normal bores,means locking the intermediate member and the outer cylinder together,means permitting said locking means to be manipulated for unlocking theintermediate member from the outer cylinder and allowing the rotatableelements to be turned by said key to align the normal bores of the plug,inner cylinder and intermediate member with said auxiliary bores of thebarrel and outer cylinder.

9. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a key, said outercylinder and inner cylinder having auxiliary borescontaining wafers atone side of their normal bores, a spring pressed pin locking the plugand the inner cylinder together, and a bore extending radially throughthe barrel with which bore said pin may be aligned to permit it to bemanipulated for unlocking the plug from the inner cylinder and allowingthe rotatable elements to be turned by said key to align the normalbores of the plug, with said auxiliary bores of the inner cylinder andouter cylinder.

10. A lock comprising a barrel, an cuter cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a key, said barrelhaving auxiliary bores provided with wafers at one side of its normalbores, said outer cylinder having auxiliary bores provided with wafersat each side of its normal bores, said inner cylinder having auxiliarybores provided with wafers at one side of its normal bores, meanslocking the intermediate member and the outer cylinder together, meanslocking the plug to the inner cylinder, means permitting said lockingmeans to be manipulated for unlocking the intermediate member from theouter cylinder and the plug from the inner cylinder, and permitting therotatable elements to be turned kby said key to align the normal boresof the plug, inner cylinder and intermediate member with said auxiliarybores of the barrel and outer cylinder, and align the normal bores ofthe plug with auxiliary bores oi" the inner cylinder and outer cylinder.

11. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a master key and aservice key, said barrel and outer cylinder having auxiliary wafercontaining bores positioned to be aligned with the normal bores of theintermediate member, inner cylinder and plug, by a turn of a key, andsaid outer cylinder and inner cylinder having auxiliary wafer containingbores positioned to be aligned with the normal locking pin bores of theplug by a turn of a key.

12. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a master key and aservice key, means normally locking the plug and the inner cylindertogether and normally locking the intermediate member and the outercylinder together, means permitting unlocking said locking means, saidbarrel and outer cylinder having auxiliary wafer containing borespositioned to be aligned by one turn of a master key, and said outercylinder and inner cylinder having auxiliary bores positioned to bealigned by an opposite turn of said key.

13. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that l normally are in alignment and provided with locking pinsand wafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a key, said barrelhaving auxiliary bores containing wafers at one side of its normalbores.

14. A lock comprising a barrel, an outer cylinder rotatable in thebarrel, an inner cylinder rotatable in the outer cylinder, a plugrotatable in the inner cylinder, an intermediate member movable betweenthe inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, said elements having rows ofbores that normally are in alignment and provided with locking pins andwafers sized to permit the lock to be operated by a key, said barrelhaving auxiliary bores provided with wafers at one side of its normalbores, and said outer cylinder having auxiliary bores provided withwafers each side of its normal bores- 15. A lock comprising a barrel, anouter cylinder rotatable in the barrel, an inner cylinder rotatable inthe outer cylinder, a plug rotatable in the inner cylinder, anintermediate member movable between't'ne inner cylinder and the outercylinder, said elements having rows of bores that normally are inalignment and provided with locking pins and wafers sized to permit thelock to be operated by a key, said barrel having auxiliary boresprovided with wafers at one side of its normal bores, said outercylinder having auxiliary bores containing wafers at each side of itsnormal bores, and said inner cylinder having auxiliary bores providedwith wafers at one side of its normal bores.

GUNNARD E. SWANSON.

